Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Turning Thirty

I turn thirty tomorrow at 8:56 am. I'm nervous about it. There is something about thirty that dictates I know things like who I am, what I believe, how to live well, and who I want to be when I grow up, which is now. The finality of being a full fledged adult means I'm supposed to have my act together and in some ways I do. Marriage, house, dogs, job, long term savings - check! What God is calling me to do, how I should react to the burning fury I have in my heart about the state of public education, estranged relationships, how to raise an interfaith kid, my lack of spiritual discipline - all completely up in the air! So, because my default mode is nerdy research, I have turned to a book. Edwina Gateley is a poet and missionary who wroteA Mystical Heart, which is a 52 week devotional guide. Each devotional consists of a quote, a poem, an illustration, and an assignment. I began last week and my assignment was to plant something. It's been too cold or I've been too busy to do this literally. Instead, I planted an idea in my mind: I can proactively seek ways to live a spiritual life in relationship with God even when I'm busy and overwhelmed by life. I also planted in my heart that it is okay if this process is imperfect, stilted, or difficult. Thus, I began a new journey. This week's assignment is rather poignant. "Just be exactly where you are - it is where you are meant to be. Rejoice in it." Okay, I'll go with it. I'm supposed to be 30. I'm supposed to be wondering about the future and reflecting on the past. I'm supposed to be struggling with how to be more fully committed to a life with God. And I'm supposed to be wondering how my choice of an interfaith family will affect the little life growing inside me. I think I can live with this. Thank you, Edwina, for writing inspiring poetry and challenging me to rediscover my mystical heart.

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Religious Terminology

chametz or chometz - the five grains that Jews are forbidden to eat during Passover. When water is added to them, they ferment, which is leavening process. It is important to Jews not to each leavened foods as a physical reminder of the Passover story. When they escaped from Egypt over 2000 years ago, they did not have time to let their bread rise, so they ate unleavened bread called matzoh. Exodus 12:14-15 proclaims the act of remembrance by excluding wheat, spelt, barley, oats and rye from your diet. We also refrain from eating rice and corn in our family, but not legumes.

Imposition of Ashes - a Catholic tradition of applying ashes to your forehead in the shape of a cross. It is received on Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The ashes are made from the palms branches used from last year's Palm Sunday service. Participants are reminded of the bittersweet nature of the Lenten season. It is a time when we mourn and celebrate simultaneously. It is also to reminds us of our own mortality here on earth and the hope of the spirit’s eternal life in heaven. This ritual practice was reintroduced to the United Methodist church about twenty years ago.

Parable of the Good Samaritan - When Jesus was asked how to earn eternal life by a lawyer, he replied with the commandment: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind," which comes from the Shema found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Then, he added, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself." The lawyer asked for clarification of Jesus' definition of neighbor. Jesus replied with a story. To paraphrase, there was a man injured on the side of the road. A priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan all passed him, but only the Samaritan stopped to help. The Samaritan represents the other in our lives, the one we least expect to help because we don't like them. The story highlights that everyone, even people you despise and those who despise you are your neighbors, so help them.